Barnes International (Barnes), a leading provider of testing tools and software to the global card market, has joined GlobalPlatform, the international smart card specifications body, to align its testing solutions - which simplify the identification of interoperability issues - with GlobalPlatform's own work towards smart card interoperability.
Barnes joins GlobalPlatform as an Observer Member. This level of membership will enable Barnes' representatives to participate in the association's Advisory Council meetings, providing the company with the opportunity to track the work of the GlobalPlatform technical committees, influence the direction of GlobalPlatform's Task Force initiatives and exchange ideas on best practice, issues and trends with other leading players in the smart card community, including the GlobalPlatform Board of Directors.
Brian Summerhayes, Managing Director at Barnes, acknowledges that the company's decision to join GlobalPlatform was driven by a combination of technical and strategic factors. "The common technical objectives on interoperability shared between Barnes and GlobalPlatform, and the active engagement of a number of our customers within GlobalPlatform means that Barnes' membership to the association makes strong commercial sense. We envision contributing to future discussions on overcoming the challenges associated with chip testing for contactless cards and bringing to market test products for testing compliance with GlobalPlatform Specifications.
"Barnes' commitment to GlobalPlatform is also intended to reinforce the strength of the company's position within the global card market. Overall, we look forward to a long and successful association with GlobalPlatform."
Marc Kekicheff, Vice-Chairman of GlobalPlatform and Senior Business Leader of Product Technology at Visa Inc., adds: "Barnes' expertise in ensuring conformance to industry standards through testing and diagnosis fits perfectly with our own efforts to simplify and accelerate the global and cross-industry adoption of interoperable smart card applications. Barnes is a valued and welcome addition to our membership."